Wireless communication device for electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exemplary electronic apparatus includes a housing, a wireless communication device disposed on the housing, and a motherboard received in the housing. The wireless communication device includes a circuit board and a wireless communication module disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board is connected the motherboard by electrical wires. The wireless communication module is located at an outside of the housing.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to wireless short-range radio communicationdevices for computers, such devices typically being Bluetooth devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Many electronic products such as personal computers and mobile phonesuse wireless means to communicate with each other over short distances.Such means include Bluetooth devices (Bluetooth is a registeredcertification mark). Conventionally, a Bluetooth device is directlyembedded in a socket of a motherboard of a computer. Typically, aplurality of electronic components such as CPUs (central processingunits) are also provided on the motherboard. Some of these electroniccomponents may generate electromagnetic radiation during operation, andsuch radiation is liable to cause EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) invarious other of the electronic components on the motherboard. Inparticular, the EMI may disturb the Bluetooth device transmitting andreceiving signals. Moreover, since the Bluetooth device is received in ahousing of the computer, the housing is liable to block the Bluetoothdevice from transmitting and receiving signals normally. An antennaneeds to be installed outside the housing, so that the Bluetooth devicecan transmit and receive signals conveniently.

What is needed, therefore, is a wireless communication device for use inan electronic apparatus which can overcome the limitations described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments.Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view of an electronic apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, isometric, assembled view of a wirelesscommunication device of the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the wireless communication device of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is an inverted view of the wireless communication device of FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic apparatus in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure includes a housing 10 and a wirelesscommunication device 20 mounted on the housing 10. The wirelesscommunication device 20 is typically a short-range radio communicationdevice such as a Bluetooth device.

Also referring to FIGS. 2-3, the wireless communication device 20includes a circuit board 22, a wireless communication module 24 disposedon the circuit board 22, and a fastening element 30 for fastening thewireless communication device 20 on the housing 10. The wirelesscommunication module 24 is typically a Bluetooth module. A socket 222 isdisposed on the circuit board 22. A circular through hole 224 is definedin the circuit board 22 near the socket 222. A pin 226 extends throughthe through hole 224 of the circuit board 22 and is fastened on thecircuit board 22. The pin 226 defines a threaded hole 228 in a centerthereof. A plurality of electrical wires 225 connect the circuit board22. The wireless communication module 24 includes a base plate 242, achip 244 disposed on a front face of the base plate 242, and aprotrusion 246 formed on a rear face of the base plate 242. A circularthrough hole 248 is defined in the base plate 242 near the chip 244. Theprotrusion 246 and the through hole 248 of the wireless communicationmodule 24 respectively correspond to the socket 222 and the through hole224 of the circuit board 22.

A motherboard 14 is disposed in the housing 10. The circuit board 22 ofthe wireless communication device 20 connects the motherboard 14 via theelectrical wires 225. The housing 10 defines a substantially rectangularthrough hole 12, corresponding to the fastening element 30.

Also referring to FIG. 4, the fastening element 30 is integrally made ofa material such as plastic. The fastening element 30 includes arectangular plate 32. A first side wall 33 extends perpendicularlyforward generally from three edges of a periphery of a first (front)face of the plate 32. A plurality of spaced limiting portions 34 extendperpendicularly inward from inner sides of opposite top and bottomportions of the first side wall 33. A distance between every twoopposite limiting portions 34 at the top and bottom portions of thefirst side wall 33 is substantially equal to a width of the circuitboard 22 of the wireless communication device 20. A pressing portion 35extends horizontally inward from an inner side of a lateral side portionof the first side wall 33. The pressing portion 35 is parallel to theplate 32. A buckle 36 extends perpendicularly from an end of the plate32 opposite to the pressing portion 35. The buckle 36 includes a body362 perpendicular to the plate 32, and a wedge-shaped block 364protruding inward from an inner side of the body 362. Thus, the plate32, the first side wall 33, the limiting portions 34, the pressingportion 35 and the buckle 36 together form a receiving space (notlabeled) for receiving the circuit board 22 therein.

Two second side walls 31 extend perpendicularly rearward from oppositetop and bottom edges of a second (rear) face of the plate 32. Aplurality of reinforcing ribs 37 are formed between the second sidewalls 31 and the plate 32, to help prevent the second side walls 31 fromdeforming when subjected to an external force. An abutting portion 38extends from an end of the second face of the plate 32, adjacent to thebuckle 36 at the first face of the plate 32. The abutting portion 38includes a base 382 extending perpendicularly from the plate 32, and abaffle portion 384 extending horizontally outwardly from the base 382. Aclasp 39 extends from another end of the second face of the plate 32opposite to the abutting portion 38. The clasp 39 includes a U-shapedbase 392 extending perpendicularly rearward from the plate 32, and awedge-shaped block 394 protruding from an outer side of the base 392.

In assembly, the protrusion 246 of the wireless communication module 24is embedded in the socket 222 of the circuit board 22, so that thethrough hole 248 of the wireless communication module 24 is in alignmentwith the threaded hole 228 of the pin 226 on the circuit board 22. Ascrew 245 extends through the through hole 248 of the wirelesscommunication module 24, and is screwed into the threaded hole 228 ofthe pin 226 on the circuit board 22 to fasten the wireless communicationmodule 24 onto the circuit board 22. The circuit board 22 of thewireless communication device 20 is inserted into the receiving space ofthe fastening element 30. One end of the circuit board 22 abuts againstan inner side of the pressing portion 35, and an opposite end of thecircuit board 22 is buckled on the block 364 of the buckle 36, wherebythe wireless communication device 20 is fastened on the fasteningelement 30. The baffle portion 384 of the abutting portion 38 of thefastening element 30 extends through the through hole 12 of the housing10 and abuts against an inner face of the housing 10. The second sidewalls 31 and the clasp 39 of the fastening element 30 extend through thethrough hole 12 of the housing 10. The base 392 of the clasp 39 isconfined by the housing 10 to deform inward, so that the block 394 ofthe clasp 39 is clasped on the inner face of the housing 10, and fourcorners of the base 32 of the fastening element 30 abut an outer face ofthe housing 10. Thus, the fastening element 30 is fastened on thehousing 10, with the wireless communication device 20 located outsidethe housing 10.

According to the disclosure, since the wireless communication device 20is disposed on and located at the outer side of the housing 10, there isno need for an antenna to be installed outside the housing 10. Thisreduces costs. Furthermore, since the wireless communication device 20is located far from the motherboard 14, electromagnetic radiationgenerated from other electronic components on the motherboard 14 can beeffectively prevented from disturbing the wireless communication device20. That is, the wireless communication device 20 is protected from EMI.

It is believed that the exemplary embodiments and their advantages willbe understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparentthat various changes may be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of the materialadvantages set forth, the examples hereinbefore described merely beingpreferred or exemplary embodiments.

1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; a motherboard receivedin the housing; and a wireless communication device disposed on thehousing and comprising a circuit board and a wireless communicationmodule disposed on the circuit board, the circuit board being connectedto the motherboard by electrical wires, the wireless communicationmodule being located at an outside of the housing; wherein a socket isdisposed on the circuit board, the wireless communication modulecomprises a base plate, a chip disposed on a front face of the baseplate, and a protrusion formed on a rear face of the base plate, and theprotrusion of the wireless communication module is embedded in thesocket of the circuit board.
 2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1,wherein the wireless communication device further comprises a fasteningelement fastened on the housing, and the circuit board is fastened onthe fastening element.
 3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe fastening element comprises a plate, a first side wall extendingperpendicularly forward from a periphery of a first face of the plate, apressing portion extending inward from an inner side of the first sidewall, and a buckle extending perpendicularly from an end of the plateopposite to the pressing portion, the pressing portion and the bucklerespectively abutting against two ends of the circuit board of thewireless communication device.
 4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3,wherein the fastening element further comprises a plurality of spacedlimiting portions extending perpendicularly inward from inner sides ofopposite top and bottom portions of the first side wall, a distancebetween every two opposite limiting portions at the top and bottomportions of the first side wall being substantially equal to a width ofthe circuit board of the wireless communication device, the plate, thefirst side wall, the limiting portions, the pressing portion and thebuckle cooperatively forming a receiving space receiving the circuitboard therein.
 5. The electronic apparatus of claim 3, wherein thebuckle comprises a body perpendicular to the plate and a wedge-shapedblock protruding inward from an inner side of the body.
 6. Theelectronic apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plate also has a secondface, the first and second faces being at opposite sides of the plate,and the fastening element further comprises an abutting portionextending from an end of the second face of the plate, and a claspextending from another end of the second face of the plate opposite tothe abutting portion, the housing defining a through hole, and theabutting portion and the clasp extending through the through hole of thehousing and being buckled on an inner face of the housing.
 7. Theelectronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the abutting portion comprisesa base extending perpendicularly from the plate, and a baffle portionextending horizontally outwardly from the base.
 8. The electronicapparatus of claim 6, wherein the clasp comprises a U-shaped baseextending perpendicularly rearwardly from the plate, and a wedge-shapedblock protruding from an outer side of the base.
 9. The electronicapparatus of claim 6, wherein the fastening element further comprisestwo second side walls extending perpendicularly rearward from oppositetop and bottom edges of the second face of the plate, the second sidewalls extending through the through hole of the housing.
 10. Theelectronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fastening element furthercomprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed between the second sidewalls and the plate.
 11. A wireless communication device comprising: afastening element adapted for fastening the wireless communicationdevice on a housing of an electronic apparatus; a circuit board fastenedon the fastening element; and a wireless communication module disposedon the circuit board; wherein when the fastening element fastens thewireless communication device on the housing of an electronic apparatus,the wireless communication module is located outside the housing;wherein the fastening element comprises a plate, a first side wallextending perpendicularly forward from a periphery of a first face ofthe plate, a pressing portion extending inward from an inner side of thefirst side wall, and a buckle extending perpendicularly from an end ofthe plate opposite to the pressing portion, the pressing portion and thebuckle respectively abutting against two ends of the circuit board ofthe wireless communication device; and wherein the buckle comprises abody perpendicular to the plate and a wedge-shaped block protrudinginward from an inner side of the body, the wedge-shaped block beingbuckled between the circuit board and the wireless communication module.12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the fasteningelement further comprises a plurality of spaced limiting portionsextending perpendicularly inward from inner sides of opposite top andbottom portions of the first side wall, a distance between every twoopposite limiting portions at the top and bottom portions of the firstside wall being substantially equal to a width of the circuit board ofthe wireless communication device, the plate, the first side wall, thelimiting portions, the pressing portion and the buckle cooperativelyforming a receiving space for receiving the circuit board therein. 13.The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the fasteningelement further comprises an abutting portion extending from an end of asecond face of the plate, and a clasp extending from another end of thesecond face of the plate opposite to the abutting portion, the housingdefining a through hole, the abutting portion and the clasp extendingthrough the through hole of the housing and being buckled on an innerface of the housing.
 14. The wireless communication device of claim 13,wherein the abutting portion comprises a base extending perpendicularlyfrom the plate, and a baffle portion extending horizontally outwardlyfrom the base.
 15. The wireless communication device of claim 13,wherein the clasp comprises a U-shaped base extending perpendicularlyrearwardly from the plate, and a wedge-shaped block protruding from anouter side of the base.
 16. The wireless communication device of claim13, wherein the fastening element further comprises two second sidewalls extending perpendicularly rearward from opposite top and bottomedges of the second face of the plate, the second side walls extendingthrough the through hole of the housing.
 17. The wireless communicationdevice of claim 16, wherein the fastening element further comprises aplurality of reinforcing ribs formed between the second side walls andthe plate.
 18. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; amotherboard received in the housing; and a wireless communication devicecomprising a fastening element fastening the wireless communicationdevice on the housing, a circuit board fastened on the fastening elementand a wireless communication module disposed on the circuit board, thecircuit board being connected to the motherboard by electrical wires,the wireless communication module being located at an outside of thehousing; wherein a through hole is defined in the circuit board, and thewireless communication module comprises a base plate, and a chipdisposed on the base plate, with a through hole being defined in thebase plate; and a pin extends through the through hole of the circuitboard and is fastened on the circuit board, the pin defining a threadedhole in a center thereof; and a screw extends through the through holeof the wireless communication module and is screwed into the threadedhole of the pin on the circuit board to fasten the wirelesscommunication module onto the circuit board.